Lack of ethnic diversity in Swapo nominations questioned

Analysts have urged the ruling party to interrogate and discuss the issue of tribal diversity. This after all Swapo’s candidates nominated for its vice-president and secretary-general positions – the most important ahead of this year’s congress – come from one ethnic group.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Frans Kapofi and Pohamba Shifeta are vying for the vice-president position, while Sophia Shaningwa and Armas Amukwiyu are competing for secretary-general.

All six are from the Aawambo ethnic group, although some were nominated or seconded by non-Oshiwambo-speaking comrades within the party.

According to political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah, ethnic diversity in Swapo’s top echelons is the elephant in the room the party is shying away from.

“It's a dilemma for the party, especially in the current political environment in which ethnic sentiments are on the rise, in particular sentiments against the Oshiwambo-speaking people domination of top positions in the party and government,” he said.

“The absence of anyone from the south, Zambezi, Kavango is likely to hurt the party in the 2024 elections.

“There is also a public perception, perceived or real, that some of the people contesting for the vice-presidency failed to manage ethnic diversity in their ministerial portfolio.”

Not surprised

Social commentator Linda Bauman said it is evident that diversity has not been a doctrine inculcated at Swapo, and that the party has been superficial about the promotion of diversity in its power structures.

She added that it is clear that once Geingob leaves the Swapo throne, the party’s top leadership would be entirely in the hands of one tribe – Aawambo.

“We should not be surprised because it has been the culture in the party that it is a Wambo party and also, on top of that, very few of the other tribes get the opportunity to climb the structures.

“There has been a tendency of ensuring that faces are there and placed to demonstrate diversity, yet the culture within the party is not advancing it. With this current nomination you will see that,” she said.

Compromise and consensus

Political analyst Rui Tyitende argued that with Namibia being a heterogeneous society, the lack of ethnic diversity in the nominated positions could be for a variety of reasons.

He further pointed out that the weekend’s nomination process highlighted compromise and consensus as well as the consideration of mutual interests.

“Politics is about promoting unity and leadership positions should reflect the country’s demographics. However, in the nomination of secretary-general, it was non-Aawambo people who nominated and seconded [Amukwiyu]. Furthermore, the individuals who nominated and seconded Shifeta [for vice-president] are also non-Aawambo. The same applies to the secondment of Kapofi,” he said.

He added that with Aawambo making up 51% of the Namibian population, an imbalance will always be a reality.

“In Windhoek or Walvis Bay, Aawambo are the majority at the cemetery, prisons and in the consumption of alcohol. I do not think it is choreographed, but numbers matter in social and political dynamics.”

'Swapo is not tribalist'

The party’s executive director Austin Samupwa said claims of a lack of diversity are unfounded and far-fetched, and that people in the party are simply Swapo members, and not judged on their tribe.

“Swapo is not tribalist. We don’t have Oshiwambo-speaking people, they are Swapo members. When the nominations were done, it was done based on them being Swapo members and not on which tribe they are from,” he said.

All candidates for the lesser-influential deputy secretary-general position are non-Aawambo, and so is the position of president, which Geingob is assured of without contest.

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